By almost every standard of measure the 2000 Celebration was one of the best ever. People continue to praise the judging panel, the facility, the quality of horses, and the overall good time they had at this world championship horse show. To a horse show manager, this is music to his ears! I have thoughts and observations about the recent Celebration, and I'm happy to share them with you.
BARNS
The new barns were well received. Initially, there were many doubts and suspicions as to whether or not the people would be happy with them, but in the long run they seemed to be very pleased. We liked them. They are functional and safe. With the standing-seam roof, the airflow is so much better. We wish it would have been possible to replace all 63 barns. Financially this was not a viable option at this time. We built 27 new barns that house approximately 550 stalls. The ones we chose were due to the fact that they are in the areas most used throughout the year by other breeds. After this initial phase of barn renovation, every event that comes to our grounds can be housed in new barns and stalls except for the Celebration. Ultimately, all of the barns will be replaced. This will definitely be a long-term project. The Celebration spent $3,100,000 on the recent construction projects, which include the new barns, the Celebration Plaza, Champions Arena, and a considerable amount of underground drainage work. We used $300,000 of our own capital and borrowed $2,800,000 from Union Planters Bank that is to be repaid at a rate of $350,000 per year for 15 years. A project with the magnitude of the one we just completed is extremely sizable to the Celebration, and we look forward to all of our customers enjoying the many changes.
THE CELEBRATION PLAZA
The Celebration Plaza is the result of the efforts of the board of directors to keep our facility among the most impressive of all equestrian facilities in America. The location lends itself to a true enhancement of both professionalism and tradition as horses go to the warm-up ring in the back of Calsonic Arena. Very few places in America have anything to match this beauty as people go to compete in various classes. There were thousands of photographs taken during the Celebration in the plaza area, and we are extremely happy with it. The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association completely remodeled their building to match the theme of the Celebration Plaza, including the brick and roof, which match our security office. There will be many memories taken home by people throughout America that come from photographs and the new Celebration Plaza.
MEDIA COVERAGE
We were delighted that the media coverage for the 2000 Celebration was extremely positive. What causes this? It is very simple. Clean, sound horses. As long as the trainers prepare the horses in a manner that complies with the Horse Protection Act of 1970, and they suit our DQPs, and they present the right image in the ring to the many spectators, media coverage will always be good. We are delighted with this. We applaud the trainers and the job they did during the 62nd annual Celebration, and we encourage them to do even a better job in 2001. We at the Celebration realize that we will never achieve perfection, but we must always strive for the day when every horse passes inspection and there are no turndowns. The current group of show horses on an overall basis present a wonderful image for our breed and send a very strong message that many people throughout our industry also rally to the S.H.O.W. campaign. Sound horses, Honest judging, Objective inspections, and Winning fairly is a mantra that the Celebration totally supports and endorses. We undergird its basic foundation and we believe in its principles. We will continue to work daily towards its end and its message. We will forever be indebted to the Maryland Group, our public relations firm in Brentwood, Tenn., for helping design this program and giving us the concept, which we can so positively embrace to the general public. In the end, however, the credit goes to the trainers who are preparing the horses and putting them in the ring. The responsibility for positive media coverage rests with them.
THROWN SHOES ON PLANTATION PLEASURE HORSES
The shoes being thrown in the plantation division has reached a point that something must be done. My concern is not merely for the spectator, although that is enough to make a horse show manager feel very strongly about an issue that the customers are not happy. I am more concerned, however, for the welfare of the horse. The horse is what we should be protecting. That is our asset. The horse is what brings us joy. We are not being fair to the horse. At the 2000 Celebration 33 shoes were cast in the plantation pleasure division and 26 were replaced. This represents approximately four hours of time in replacing the shoes. More importantly, however, it means that spectators were frustrated and disappointed, the exhibitors did not have a fair chance to showcase their entries in front of the judges, the judging panel was put at a disadvantage because they could not get in a "rhythm" in the particular classes involved, and several of the horses suffered very severe foot damage. This must stop. Look at this breakdown of the past five years.
Thrown Shoes
Replaced Year Thrown
26 2000 33
16 1999 21
9 1998 16
18 1997 38
18 1996 26
In the opinion of this show manager, it seems that we are allowing people to make the decision as to whether or not bands are optional who have no business being involved in the decision. For example, if a person is not showing in a plantation pleasure division, why are they making decisions and why should they have a vote as to whether or not bands are allowed? If someone has a horse that they pleasure ride at their home or on trail rides, why should someone in the padded divisions be making decisions as to what type of equipment they ought to wear? They shouldn't. The people that are affected should be the ones making the decisions. I am convinced that we need to make bands optional on the plantation pleasure division entries. Please remember that we are not being fair to the horse. We are not being fair to the judging panel. We are not being fair to the exhibitors. We are not being fair to the spectators. We are being fair to no one. Why are they not optional?